Timing device



March 4, 1941. Q u JR TIMING mavxcs Filed June 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March 4, 1941. Q UHL JR 2,233,756

TIMING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEKS,

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to timing clocks, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, reliable and generally improved timing device which is adapted for use to advantage in many 6 lines of work.

The manner in which the foregoing and other important objects of the invention are attained will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accom- 10 panying drawings, which illustrate one embodimerit of the invention and in which- Fig. l is a front view of a timing device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing in plan the mechanism employed in driving the second and minute hands at the required relative speeds;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, portions of the driving mechanism being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the timing device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional view showing details of the brake mechanism appearing in Figs. 3 to 5; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental view partly in section and partly in elevation of a clutch unit through the medium of which the hands of the 3m timing device are normally driven.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the timing device, herein illustrated as embodying the present invention, includes a base Ill, with which is associated a suitable housing within which 5 are provided a plurality of frame members i2, i4 and i5, the frame members being suitably held within the housing and connected together in spaced relation by a plurality of tie rods i6. To the frame member 82 there is suitably connected a dial 11, provided with a scale |8, the graduations of which scale are indicative respectively, of units of time, namely, minutes and seconds. The scale I8 is employed in connection with a second hand 28 and a minute hand 2|, which, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, are adapted to rotate according to a ratio of 60 to 1, Thus it will be understood that during such time as the second hand 2|] completes one revolution, the minute hand 2| will move from one graduation to another during the course of a one-minute period.

The mechanism by which the second and minute hands 28 and 2| are normally rotated in a clockwise direction, includes a shaft 22, one end of which is journaled in the frame member l5 and the other end of which is associated with a thrust bearing 24. The shaft 22 is equipped with a gear 28 by which such shaft may be conveniently connected to a suitable power source, such as the motor (not shown)) of a conventional clock mechanism of the spring-actuated type. The shaft 22 is equipped at one end with a clutch disk 26, provided on its face with a suitable frictional and shock-absorbent material 21, such as cork or leather, the clutch disk being adapted to cooperate with a clutch head 28 to effect rotation of the second and minute hands 28 and 2|, respecively, through the medium of suitable gearing hereinafter more particularly described. The clutch head 28 is provided on'its face with an annular groove, within which is secured a ring of suitable frictional and shock-absorbent material 38, such as cork or leather. As shown most clearly in Fig. '7, the clutch head 28 is provided with a central recess 3| adapted for the reception of a clutch plate 32, with respect to which the clutch head is adapted to rotate under conditions of operation hereinafter more particularly described. The clutch plate 32 is secured to the end of the reduced portion of a shouldered shaft 34, journaled in the frame members 12 and I4 and adapted to be displaced longitudinally of itself, as and for the purpose hereinafter explained. Preferably, the clutch plate 32 is secured to the reduced portion of the shaft 34 by a lag screw 35, the plate being effectively held against rotation with respect to its associated shaft by a rib-and-slot interlocking connection as shown at 36. The clutch plate 32 is provided on its face with a suitable frictional and shock-absorbent material 31, such as cork or leather.

In order that the shaft 34, together with its associated clutch head 28 and clutch plate 32, may be normally maintained in a driven relation to the clutch disk 26, there is provided a thrust spring 38, one end 'of which engages an anti-friction washer 40 disposed intermediate the clutch head and the adjacent shoulder with which the shaft 34 is provided. The other end of the thrust spring 38 surrounds the cylindrical portion 4| of a spacer element 42 and abuts the outwardly extending flange 43 thereof, the spacer element being supported by the frame member l4 and adapted to maintain the thrust spring 38 in a spaced relation to the shaft 34 at all times.

The clutch disk 28, the clutch head 28 and the clutch plate 30 constitute a clutch unit U, in which the frictional members 38 and 31 of the clutch head and clutch plate 28 and 32, respectively, are normally maintained by the spring 38 in driven engagement with the frictional member hand Ell 2T oi the clutch dish. 'ihus it will be understood that, although the clutch head 28 is free to rotate with respect to the shaft 34 when the clutch unit is released, such clutch head and shaft are roiutcd simultaneously with, and at the same speed as, the shaft 22 during such time as the frictional members and 3'! are maintained in driven engagement with. the frictional member H.

In order that the clutch unit U may be released when it is desired to reset or return second and minute hands 20 and ii to their respective start ing positions. the clutch head 28 is provided on its periphery with an annular groove 44 adapted for the reception of the yoke end 45 of a clutchactuating lever 45, pivotally supported on the frame member H as shown most clearly in Fig. Ii. The upper end of the clutchactuating lever 46 is disposed in substantially horizontal plane so as to provide co. ct foot W, with which the lower end or the stern M of reset but 50 is adapted to cooperate. Tihc reset butts. is normally held in, its elevate thrust spring 5i, associated wl and crisp ed to y b1 Upon is free to re R. iii

position it movement oi ti influence oi cl connected to the under its own weight truly dependir of rest shown in Fr on other normal posit to obv te oscilnormal or depending p vidcd with a fiat surface, as which surface a hat spring i adapted to in timatcly engage, the spring secured at one end to a lug 51 carried by the Marne member i2.

The possibility of the existence or" such. a state of equilibrium of the pendulum 54 as would obvlate its return to a normal position is precluded by providing the pendulum with a knife-edge cam 58, and by providing the frame member H with a similar knife-edge cam located above the axis of the shaft 34 in a vertical plane passing through such axis. These knife-edge cams are so disposed that, in the event the clutch unit U is declutched while the pendulum 54 is in its upper dead-center position, the cam 58 will engage the cam 60, as the shaft 34 is displaced longitudinally of itself, and thereby move the pendulum in one direction or the other to an ofl-center position, thus allowing it to be effectively acted on by gravity whereby its return to its normal position is insured. Although the cams 58 and 60 are so related that engagement of one with the other is efiected under the condition just described, it is to be observed that under normal operating conditions the cam 58 is permitted to move unobstructedly past the cam 60 as the pendulum moves through its upper deadcenter position.

In order to permit the second hand 20 to be readily adjusted to predetermined starting position, it is secured to an adjustable plug-like pin 6|, the head portion 62 of which is provided with a. slot 63 and the shank portion 64 of which is frlctionally held within a socket 65 formed in one end of the shaft 34. When it is desired to rotate the plug-like pin 6|, with respect to the shaft 34 to eflect, for example, pre-zero positioning of the second hand lib, a suitable lnstrurrlent such a screw driver may be inserted in the slot 63 by Way of an opening 56 provided in the transparent protective dial cover 81, the opening being normally closed by a pivotally supported shutterlike closure 63. In order that the shaft 84 may be restrained against rotation during such time as the plug-like pin Si is being rotated to effect an adjustment of the second hand 20, there is provided a U-shaped latch '10 which is carried by a shaft 1! lournaled on the frame member M, the shaft being provided at its outer end with an operating lever 12 by which it may be so rotated as to move the latch into interlocking engagement with the pendulum b4. latch ill is adapted to receive the pendulum between. its restraining arms, it follows that the shaft lit be effectively retained against rotation in either direction when melting an ad" .Hrstinent of the second hand M in one direction the other, pursuant to which the pendulum n. be released by moving the through the medium or shalt iii and associated co the min" with relation to i the rotation oi? l.

namely, i. :lriay be ll'" 11 rotation to 11y w y of suitable reduction gearin establish, the ties .d speed relation. tween the second .l minute hands,

end t e clutch lie illi provided at ith a the race which is sullici wide to maintain engagement of that its associated ill despite longitudinal placement 0' the shaft il i under the action or. the ct button or the thrust spring The gear is journaled on stub shalt "iii carried by the ame member i i and provided with a drive pinion ll, meshing with a gear it, secured to a shaft ilfl, journaled in the frame members iii and i i. The shaft bit is surrounded by torsion spring iii, one end of which is anchored to the shaft and the other end of which is anchored to the frame member 14 as shown. To the front end of the shaft 80, there is secured a gear B2, meshing with an idle gear B4, journalcd on a stub shaft 85, carried by the frame member E2. The gear 84 meshes with a gear 86, which is jourhalecl on the shaft 34 and to the hub-like flange 31 of which the minute hand 2| is rigidly secured. The gear train just described as including the gears 14, 15, TI, 18, 82, 84 and 86 is such that a gear ratio of 60 to 1 is attained between the gears 14 and 86 with the result that a corresponding speed ratio is attained between the second hand 20 and the minute hand 2|. Referring to the torsion spring 8|, it is to be observed that the direction of rotation of the shaft 80 is such incident to movement of the minute hand 2| in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 1, that energy is stored in the spring, the energy thus stored being sufiicient, when the reset button 50 is depressed, to effect the return of that hand to its starting position from any advanced position that it may assume. In order to limit movement of the minute hand 2| to less than one complete revolution in its clockwise travel, means are provided for automatically applying a braking action to the clutch disk 26 at the proper instant. The automatic braking mechanism comprises an operating lever 81, connected to a shaft 88 pivlTo this Inasmuch as the Till otally supported in the frame member I! and provided at one end with a spring like brake finger 90 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the clutch disk 26, as the operating lever 81 is moved from one extreme position to another extreme position as determined by a pair of stop lugs 9| which are carried by the frame member. In order that the operating lever 81 may be so moved as to automatically effect engagement of the brake finger 90 with the clutch disk 26 at the instant the minute hand 2| v completes a predetermined portion of one complete revolution, the gear 18 is provided with an actuating pin 92; which, as the gear I8 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (reference being had to Fig. 4), engages the operating lever 81, and thereupon causes that lever to move in a clockwise direction. Incident to a predetermined movement of the operating lever 81 under the action of the actuating pin 92, such lever is further moved with a snap action under the infiuence of a tension spring 94, one end of which is anchored to the frame member I5 through the medium of an anchor pin 95 and the other end of which is connected to the shaft 88 through the medium of a cranking arm 86 secured to that shaft and provided at its outer end with an anchor pin 9i to which the tension spring 94 is connected. "After movement of the minute hand 26 has been discontinued by application of the braking mechanism just described, the minute hand 28 may be restored to its initial or starting position by depressing the reset button 50 in which case the clutch unit U is released whereupon reverse movement of the shaft 8% is effected under the action of its associated torsional spring at. Such reverse movement of the shaft 86 is so limited as to cause the minute hand 28 to assume its zero or starting position, the means employed in this connection being herein illustrated as a suitably located stop lug Sliagainst which the actuating pin 92 abuts as the gear 1%? is rotated in clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 4. As the minute hand 2| is returned to its starting position, incident to declutching of the clutch unit U, the second hand 20 is returned to its starting position under the action of gravity acting on the pendulum Si in the manner hereinbefore described. Thus it will be understood that the reset button 50 performs the dual function of simultaneously initiating the return of the second hand 20 and the minute hand M to their initial or starting positions. It is observed, however, that immediately following the resetting operation of the hands 20 and 2|, a further depression of the reset buttonjli will effect such displacement of the operating lever 81 as to move it in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 5, so as to eifect a release of the brake finger 90 from the clutch disk 26. Such movement of the operating lever 81 is effected by an actuating finger I00, which is suitably connected to the stem 48 of the reset button 50 and is adapted to engage the operating lever 81 and move it a sufficient distance to enable the tension spring 94 to further move it with a snap action to its position shown in Fig. 5. After having declutched the clutch unit U, and thereafter released the brake finger 90 in the manner described, rotation of the second and minute hands 20 and 2| may again be effected in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 1, by permitting the reset button to return to its normal position whereupon the clutch unit U is rendered effective under the action of the thrust spring 38.

In order that movement of the second and minute hands 20 and 2|, respectively, may be discontinued at any point intermediate their initial or starting positions and the positions in which they are brought to rest automatically, through the cooperation of the actuating pin 92 with the operating lever 81 in the manner already described, there is provided a stop button I 0|. This stop button is substantially identical with the reset button 50 already described and for that reason it is deemed unnecessary to elaborate on it other than to point out that it is so disposed with respect to the operating lever 81 that this lever may be so moved, incident to depression of the stop button, as to cause it to move in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 4, a suflicient distance to permit the tension spring 94 to then further so move the lever with a snap action as to cause the brake finger 90 to engage the clutch disk 26. In order that rotation of the second and minute hands 20 and 2|, respectively, may be established in a clockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 1, after they have been brought to rest under the operation of the stop button llll, there is provided a start button I02 which is structurally identical with the stop button |0| but is adapted, when depressed, to engage the operating lever 81 and so move it in a counterclockwise direction, reference being had to Fig. 4, from its braking position as to enable the tension spring 94 to act on it and further move it to its position shown in Fig. 4, thereby causing the brake finger 90 to disengage the clutch disk 26.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the timing device embodying the present invention is not only simple and inexpensive but is also such, due.,to its flexibility of control, that it may be used to advantage in many lines of work where accuracy in "the timing of operations which are to be carried o'ut,-.either interruptedly or uninterruptedly, is of utmost importance.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as for example, the substitution of a suitable switch for the brake finger so and the utilization of such switch to start and stop an electric motor so connected to the shaft 22 as to rotate that shaft at the rate and in the manner already described.

What is claimed is:

l. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand secured to said shaft, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk and a clutch plate, said clutch plate being carried by said shaft and normally engaging said clutch disk, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said unit is declutched, and means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its starting position.

2. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand secured to said shaft, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk and a clutch plate, said clutch plate being carried by said shaft and normally engaging said clutch disk, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said unit is declutched, and a pendulum carried by said shaft and rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its starting position,

A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand secured to said shaft, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk and a clutch plate, said clutch plate being carried by said shaft and normally engaging said clutch disk, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said unit is declutched, a pendulum car- :ied by said shaft and rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its starting position, and cam means rendered effective incident to longitudinal displacement of said shaft to move said pendulum from its dead-center position above the axis of said shaft in the event such dead-center position prevails at the instant said shaft is longitudinally displaced in the declutching operation.

4. A timing device comprising a shaft, a second indicator hand secured to said shaft, a minute indicator hand supported on said shaft for rotation with respect thereto, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk, a clutch head and a clutch plate, said clutch head being carried by said shaft for rotation with respect thereto and said clutch plate being secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, means for maintaining said clutch head and clutch plate in driven relation to said clutch disk whereby said clutch head and said shaft are driven simultaneously at the same speed, gear means operatively connecting said clutch head with said minute hand whereby said minute hand is rotated simultaneously with said shaft but at a reduced speed with respect thereto, means for declutching said clutch unit, means rendered effective upon declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said second indicator hand is returned to its starting position, and means rendered effective upon declutching said unit for rotatively returning said minute indicator hand to its starting position 5. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, a second indicator hand secured to said shaft, a minute indicator hand supported on said shaft for rotation with respect thereto, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk, a clutch head and a clutch plate, said clutch head being carried by said shaft for rotation with respect thereto and said clutch plate being secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, means for maintaining said clutch head and clutch plate in driven relation to said clutch disk whereby said clutch head and said shaft are driven simultaneously at the same speed. gear means operatively connecting said clutch head with said minute hand whereby said minute hand is rotated simultaneously with said shaft but at a reduced speed with respect thereto, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said unit is declutched, means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said second indicator hand is returned to its starting position, and means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said minute indicator hand to its starting position.

6. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, a second indicator hand secured to said shaft, 9, minute indicator hand medias and said shaft are driven simultaneously at the same speed, gear means operatively connecting said clutch head with said minute hand whereby said minute hand is rotated simultaneously with said shaft but at a reduced speed with respect thereto, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said unit is declutched, a pendulum secured to said shaft and rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said second indicator hand is returned to its starting position, and spring means associated with said gear means and rendered effective on said gear means incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said minute indicator hand to its starting position.

7. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand adjustably secured to said shaft whereby such hand may be predeterminedly positioned at any one of a number of starting positions, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk and a clutch plate, said clutch plate being carried by said shaft and normally engaging said clutch disk, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said clutch unit is declutched, and means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its predetermined starting position.

8. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand adjustably secured to said shaft whereby such hand may be predeterminedly positioned at any one of a number of starting positions, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and including a clutch disk and a clutch plate, said clutch plate being carried by said shaft and normally engaging said clutch disk, means for longitudinally displacing said shaft whereby said clutch unit is declutched, means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its predetermined starting position, and manually controlled means for retaining said shaft against rotation while in its starting position and while adjustment of said hand to a predetermined starting position is being effected.

9. A timing device comprising a longitudinally displaceable shaft, an indicator hand secured to said shaft and adapted to be rotated through the medium thereof, a clutch unit associated with said shaft and through the medium of which said shaft is rotated, automatically actuated control means rendered effective incident to predetermined rotation of said shaft to render said shaft inactive, and reset means operable to first effect longitudinal displacement of said shaft whereby said clutch unit is declutched and further operable to next render said control means ineffective, means rendered effective incident to declutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its starting position, and means for thereafter rendering such unit effective with respect to said shaft.

clutching said unit for rotatively returning said shaft to its starting position whereby said hand is returned to its starting position, means for thereafter rendering such unit effective with respect to said shaft, and manually actuated means 5 operable on the one hand to render said shaft inactive at any instant during such time as said shaft is being rotated through the medium of such unit and operable thereafter on the other hand to render said shaft active under the in- 10 fluence of said unit.

OTTO UHL, JR. 

